Barcelona dream puts Andrei Arshavin out of reach

Jun 26 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON’S hopes of landing Andrei Arshavin appear to have been dashed after the Russian playmaker revealed that he has his heart set on a ‘dream’ move to Barcelona.

David Moyes has been tracking the 27-year-old ever since Everton played his club Zenit St Petersburg in the group stages of last season’s UEFA Cup competition.

Although Everton won the game between the two sides 1-0 at Goodison Park in December thanks to a late Tim Cahill goal, Arshavin impressed Moyes greatly. The Scot followed his progress throughout the campaign which ended in glory for the Russian club when they lifted the UEFA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium.

However, any aspirations of Everton capturing Arshavin appear to be fading fast after the player declared that he wants to be plying his trade at the Nou Camp next season.

Arshavin, who has also been on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s radar, said: “I have supported Barcelona all my life.

“Barcelona are my dream. I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let’s see how the situation unfolds.

“For now I can’t say anything for sure.

“At the moment I’m a player of team Russia and I’m only thinking about doing well in the semi-finals.”

Meanwhile, Ayegbeni Yakubu believes that getting married this weekend will help him to improve his scoring ratio.

Everton’s record signing’s marriage ceremony to Yvonne Ikhana, daughter of Kadiri Ikhana, a football coach who led Kano Pillars to their first Nigerian title last season, began in Abeokuta yesterday with the reading of the traditional rites and will conclude with a white wedding in Lagos on Saturday.

The 25-year-old, who became the first Everton player to score more than 20 goals in a season since the inception of the Premier League reckons his new bride is a calming influence and he is confident of building on his impressive debut campaign at Goodison Park.

Yakubu said: “Even when you are down and things are not going well for you, she is there for you and you are there for her, its one of the best things in life and I believe with her by my side I will score even more goals.

“I go for training and even to play a match with happiness in my heart. That is the motivation that makes me play well. She just says ‘go there and play well and score for me’.

“It gives me more confidence, more belief in myself.”